Gathering means for clippers

ABSTRACT

Gathering means adapted to be employed with a clipping device which applies a sealing clip to the mouth of a flexible bag or like container. The gathering device compresses the material simultaneously in two directions substantially at right angles to each other to optimize the sealing effect.

United States Patent 1 [111 3,783,583 Dobbert Jan, 8, 1974 [54] GATHERING MEANS FOR CLIPPERS 3,583,056 6/1971 Kledz 29/243.57

. 3,432,980 3/1969 Seiferth et a1. 53/138 A X [751 Invent Arm! mbbe"! Cahf- 3,381,359 5/1968 Schroeder 53/138 A x 73 Assigneez Rheem Manufacturing Company, 3,293,736 12/1966 Tipper 54/243.57

New York, N.Y. v 22 Fi'ed: Sept. 22 1972 Primary Examiner-Travis S. McGehee Assistant Examiner-John Sipos PP 291,334 Attorney-Gordon Wood [52] US. Cl 53/138 A, 53/198 A, 29/241557, 4 140 93 A [57] ABSTRACT 51 Int. Cl B65b 13 20 r i Field of Search 5 3/138 138 A g Gathering means adapted to be emoloyedwith a clip- 53 [198 43 57 D ping device'which-applies a sealing clip to the mouth 1 4 of a flexible bag or like container. The gathering device compresses the material simultaneously in'two di- [56] References Cited rections substantially at right angles to each other to UNITED STATES PATENTS optimize the sealing effect 3,543,378 12/1970 Klenz 29/243.57 5 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures PAIENTEU JAN 8 SHEET 1 0F 2 GATHERING MEANS FORCLIPPERS This invention relates to a gathering device for gathering and compressing the flexible material comprising the mouth of a bag or like container formed of flexible plastic film and the like.

I-leretofore in clipping devices for applying a seal to the mouth of a flexible bag or the like it has been customary to provide means for assisting the operator in gathering and compressing the material to a position against a die on which a U-shaped clip is applied. This is necessary .to insure that the two legs of the clip straddle the material to be sealed before the clip is deformed by the clipper punch against the die. If interference between the clip legs and the material exists, then damage to the material results, thereby preventing a good seal from being formed.

In the past, clippers incorporating a swinging gate have employed such gate to perform the gathering function. For example, this is done in U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,880,419; 3,237,366; 3,293,736; 3,394,528; 3,516,222; and 3,583,056. I

By the prior art structures the gathering step is performed only in one direction so that the material is piled up above the die so that such material is vertically elongated. The final compression of the material is performed by the clip as it approaches the die.

The prior art method of gathering in only one direction does not achieve a folded and compressed article of optimum density thereby increasing the likelihood of obtaining a poor seal. Particularly when used with large bags having a large amount of material to seal, the priorart method does not obtain the even gathering effect required.

The main object of the present invention is to improve the gathering effect of the material to be sealed prior to clipping. This is achieved by gathering and compressing the material simultaneously in two directions generally at right angles to each other thereby achieving folding and compression of the material evenly in all directions.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an effective gathering means for achieving the above mentioned optimum gathering effect in a simplified manner.

Still another object of the invention is the provision of means for ejecting the clipped material from the die in conjunction with the gathering means.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the following specification and drawings.

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of a clipping apparatus showing the preferred form of the invention associated therewith.

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary side elevation of the structure shown in FIG. 1 with the material to be gathered entering the gathering means.

FIG. 3 is an end elevation of the structure of FIG. 2.

FIGS. 4, 5, 6 are views similar to FIG. 2 showing the successive positions of the device.

The invention is adapted to be employed with a clipping apparatus which includes a base generally designated 1 to which is secured a vertically disposed die support 2 on which is supported a die 3. p

The die support 2 is formed to provide a vertically extending clip channel 4 along which U-shaped clips 5 are successively forced by an elongated punch 6 toward the die 3.

The punch 6 isv slidably supported intermediate its ends in-an apertured bushing 7 and is fixed at its upper end to a piston (not shown) which is slidably received in cylinder 12. This cylinder is supported on the upper ends of side plates 13, 14 which are fixedly secured at their lower ends on a horizontally disposed support plate 15 which in turn is secured to the upper edge of die support 2. The clips 5 are fed into the channel 4 from a clip rail 17 which is secured at its lower end to die support 2.

The above described clipping apparatus is generally conventional and forms no part of the present invention except in combination therewith. Details of the construction briefly described above may be seen in U.S. patent application, Ser. No. 127,495, filed Mar. 24, 1971 now U.S. Pat. No. 3,728,773.

The instant invention is primarily concerned with a gathering means for efficiently gathering and compressing the mouth of a .bag or like container formed of flexible material such as plastic film so that such mouth may be positioned in a compressed form above the die 3 for sealing by means of one of the clips 5.

The invention is connected to and actuated by a conventional gate structure including a gate generally designated 18 which is formed along one edge to provide a slot 19 which, when the gate 18 is in the closed position of FIG. 6, constitutes one of the lower sides of clip channel 4, thus enabling a clip 5 to be supported along both legs as it moves toward die 3.

The gate 18 includes a pair of arms 20, 21; arm

being swingably connected to die support 2 by pivot 24 and arm 21 being connected by a pivot 25 to the outer end of the piston rod 27 of a hydraulic cylinder 28. The opposite end of cylinder 28 is secured by a pivot 30 to a bracket 31 which in turn is secured to main cylinder The means for actuating gate cylinder 28 is not pertinent to the present invention. Details of the means for applying fluid pressure to cylinder 28 (and to main cylinder 12) may be similar to those shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,237,366. At this point it will be understood, however, that during a clipping cycle the cylinder 28 is actuated to close the gate 28 to the position of FIG.- 6 and thereafter main cylinder 12 is actuated to apply the clip. i

Secured to the gate 18 is a pivot 32 which is received through a hole in an enlarged head 33 at one end of an elongated arm 34 which is slidably received at its oppo site end in a slot 35 formed in a bracket 36 fixedly secured to die support 2. At this point it will be noted that the movement of gate 18 from the open position of FIGS. 1, 2 to the closed position of FIG. 6 causes the arm 34 to swing from an. open position inclined upwardly to the right to a closed position inclined slightly downwardly to the right.

At the outer end of head 33 of arm 34, a pivot 39 is provided for swingably supporting a flat gathering plate generally designated 40. This plate 40 isprovided with an arcuate slot 42 through which the above noted pivot 32 is received. By this structure it will be noted that the plate 40 may be swung to aninner position shown in FIG. 2 to an outer position shown in FIGS. 4-6.

pivot 47. Plate 45 is provided with a laterally outwardly projecting ear 46 which is adapted to rest on the upper edge 47 of elongated arm 34 so that plate 45 swings by gravity from the position of FIG. 2 to the to the position of FIG. 6 when the gate 18 is closed. When the gate 18 is opened, the plate 45 swings upwardly past the die 3 to eject the clipped article thereon.

In operation, the material 48 is fed either manually or by a suitable mechanism in the direction indicated in FIG. 1 past the gathering plate 40. A rotatably supported roller 49 may be mounted on die support 2 to reduce resistance to this movement. As seen in FIG. 2 the gathering plate 40 swings upwardly against gravity and then swings downwardly to the position of FIG. 4 after the material 48 moves further inwardly.

The cylinder 28 is then actuated to swing gate 18 downwardly and inwardly as shown in FIG. 5. It will be noted that the arm 34 has the effect of forcing the material 48 downwardly against die 3 as the adjacent edge of gathering plate 40 urges the material against the closed side of the die support. The result is that between the positions of FIGS. 5 and 6, the material 48 is being compressed in two directions substantially at right angles to each other, thereby obtaining the desired uniform compression. As seen in FIG. 6 the material 48 is completely compressed before the punch applies the clip.

After the clip is applied, and on the return stroke of cylinder 28, the ejector plate 45 positively, ejects the sealed product.

I claim:

'1. A gathering device for gathering and compressing the material of the mouth of a flexible bag or the like preparatory to tying such mouth, comprising:

a die support,

a die on said die support adapted to receive said material thereon,

a gate swingably mounted on said die support for movement from an open position spaced from said die to a closed position adjacent said die,

an elongated arm connected adjacent one end to said gate and swingably supported at its opposite end for movement with said gate from an open position spaced from said die to a closed position adjacent said die for urging said material in a directiontoward said die,

a gathering member carried by said arm and provided with a gathering edge adapted to urge said material in a direction substantially at right angles to said last mentioned direction.

2. A device according to claim 1 wherein said gathering member is swingably supported on said arm for movement toward the latter to an inner position when such material is fed toward said die.

3. A device according to claim 2 wherein said member is adapted to swing away from said arm by gravity to an outer position when such material is fed past said member.

4. A device according to claim 1 wherein an ejector plate is supported on said die support for movement from a position spaced from one side of said die to a position on the opposite side of said die for ejecting clipped material from the latter.

5. A device according to claim 4 wherein said ejector plate is actuated by said arm. 

1. A gathering device for gathering and compressing the material of the mouth of a flexible bag or the like preparatory to tying such mouth, comprising: a die support, a die on said die support adapted to receive said material thereon, a gate swingably mounted on said die support for movement from an open position spaced from said die to a closed position adjacent said die, an elongated arm connected adjacent one end to said gate and swingably supported at its opposite end for movement with said gate from an open position spaced from said die to a closed position adjacent said die for urging said material in a direction toward said die, a gathering member carried by said arm and provided with a gathering edge adapted to urge said material in a direction substantially at right angles to said last mentioned direction.
 2. A device according to claim 1 wherein said gathering member is swingably supported on said arm for movement toward the latter to an inner position when such material is fed toward said die.
 3. A device according to claim 2 wherein said member is adapted to swing away from said arm by gravity to an outer position when such material is fed past said member.
 4. A device according to claim 1 wherein an ejector plate is supported on said die support for movement from a position spaced from one side of said die to a position on the opposite side of said die for ejecting clipped material from the latter.
 5. A device according to claim 4 wherein said ejector plate is actuated by said arm. 